Beverage pump dispenser

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a beverage pump which has a pouring spout which nests within a sanitary sealing lid when the pump is not in use. The pump fits into a standard beverage container of the bottle type and can be attached to other containers. The pump is held in place by a cap which closely fits the lip and a portion of the neck of the container and which has means for tightening the cap around the neck of the beverage container to provide a tight seal. A deformable gasket which permits beverage to flow in one direction only provides means for lifting the beverage to the discharge spout.

United States Patent Clement [54] BEVERAGE PUMP DISPENSER Clyde H. Clement, Phoenix, Ariz.

Leland B. Larson, Phoenix, Ariz. a part interest 22 Filed: Aug. 10, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 62,576

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1933 Kramer ..222/385 4/1924 Van Tine ..222/562 x 51 July 11, 1972 Elofson ..222/s72 Deverall ..222/ass x [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention discloses a beverage pump which has a pouring spout which nests within a sanitary sealing lid when the pump is not in use. The pump fits into a standard beverage container of the bottle type and can be attached to other containers. The pump is held in place by a cap which closely fits the lip and a portion of the neck of the container and which has means for tightening the cap around the neck of the beverage container to provide a tight seal. A deformable gasket which permits beverage to flow in one direction only provides means for lifting the beverage to the discharge spout.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ,PKTENTEDJULHIQI? q 8,675,830

INVENTOR.

CLYDE H. CLEMENT ATTORNEYS BEVERAGE PUMP DISPENSER This invention relates to beverage dispensers.

More particularly, this invention relates to a pump for use in beverage containers or bottles of glass and plastic and is adaptable to other types of containers which have a neck.

In yet another aspect, this invention relates to improvements to such a beverage dispenser wherein a novel pouring spout, sanitary sealing cap and pump are provided.

Various means for dispensing beverages fromtheir containers are known to the prior art. In the field of beverage containers for household use, the dispensers have been presented in the form of pouring spouts which are integrally formed with the container, pouring spouts which are inserted into the mouth of the beverage container, and seltzer bottle type of dispensers. Pump-type CO pressure dispensers are known for the dispensing of shaving cream and toothpaste and articles of that type, but suffer from certain defects of structure and function when applied to beverage dispensing, as will be discussed more at length hereinafter.

The principal difliculties with the dispensers of the prior art have been with the handling and manipulation of the containers themselves. The trend in modern marketing techniques is to sell beverages in ever-larger containers, the bulk and weight of which make them difficult to handle. For example, milk is commonly sold in half-gallon and l-gallon containers. Their weight and bulk make them awkward to handle. Other examples of similarly scaled containers for other beverages could be readily brought to mind. Such beverages are sold in bottles of glass and plastic in many instances. Handling beverage-filled glass containers presents a safety hazard because of the possibility of dropping the container. Injuries occur from broken glass or the dropping of the heavy object on a foot. Another problem in using containers which must be tipped for pouring is the difficulty in dispensing measured amounts, because of the abrupt pouring which is likely to occur in tipping a heavy beverage container. Compounding the problem is the fact that beverage containers are the type to which children are likely to seek access. Children are even more likely to encounter a mishap in handling such objects.

Beverages which are consumed in large quantities daily are not suitable for dispensing under carbon dioxide pressure, because of the expense involved. 7

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a dispenser which may be used to dispense beverages without moving, tipping or otherwise handling the beverage container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser which can be used to more sensitively dispense measured amounts of beverage.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a dispenser which can be sealed when not in use and thus provide a more sanitary condition of storage.

Yet another and further object of this invention is to provide such a beverage container which is convenient and enjoyable to use, and simple and dependable to operate.

Yet other and further objects will occur to those skilled in g the art from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the invention with a portion of the tube member broken away to illustrate the plunger;

FIG. 2 is a view of the device of FIG. 1 in section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed plan view of the cover member.

Briefly, the invention provides for a beverage pump dispenser to be used in conducting a beverage from a beverage container to a receptacle or other place for transportation, processing or further storage of the beverage. The beverage dispenser comprises an elongate tube member which has several parts: a submersible end, a discharge end, and a hollow body which has an inside diameter. The latter may be varied according to the requirements of the situation. It is understood, of course, that the size of the beverage pump dispenser as a whole or in its parts may be varied to suit particular dispensing requirements. The dispenser further comprises means for sealing the space between the tube member and the mouth of the beverage container, means for spacing the submersible end of the tube member from the bottom of the container to permit beverage to flow into the tube member, means for conducting the beverage from the discharge end of the cover member to a receptacle or other place for use or further handling, means defining a vent for replacing extracted beverage with air, and a plunger having a pumping end and a suction end for use within the tube member. V

In further describing the plunger, it may be said to comprise an elongate shank, a gasket disposed at the suction end, (the gasket closely fitting the inside dimension of the tube member for creating suction to raise the beverage), and means disposed at the pumping end of the plunger for sealing the discharge end of the tube member when the dispenser is not in use.

The invention further provides a refinement of the device described above wherein means for sealing the space between the tube member and the mouth of the beverage container comprises a cap having a top end and a side band integrally formed with the top, the top having means defining an aperture to sealingly receive the tube member, the side band having an inside and outside wall and a free edge (the inside wall being shaped and dimensioned to closely engage the lip and a portion of the neck of the beverage container and the outside wall having means defining a slot extending upwardly from the free edge of the side band), and means for narrowing the width of the slot of the side band to tighten the side band around the neck of the beverage container.

In another refinement of the invention, as heretofore described, the means for spacing the submersible end of the elongate'tube member from the bottom of the beverage container to permit beverage to flow into the tube member comprises a cover member for covering the submersible end of the tube member, the cover member having means defining at least one port and the cover member having in addition at least one foot for spacing the cover member from the bottom of the beverage container to permit the beverage to flow freely between the cover member and the bottom of the beverage container.

In yet another refinement of the invention above described,

the means for conducting the beverage from the discharge end of the tube member to a receptacle for use provides for the following details. A skirt having a flared edge is integrally formed with the discharge end of the tube member and an inwardly directed flange projects from the flared edge of the skirt. The flange has a graduated width from zero width to a substantial width such that a pouring spout is formed at the point of zero width. The flange should not project so far inwardly as to interfere with the function of the plunger, however.

There has been mentioned, as a part of this invention, means disposed at the pumping end of the plunger for sealing the discharge end of the tube member when the dispenser is not in use. One embodiment of this means comprises a lid member shaped and dimensioned to sealingly cover the flared edge of the skirt to provide a sanitary air-tight seal for the dispenser.

In still another refinement of this invention as hereinbefore described, the means disposed at the suction end for drawing the beverage into the tube member and urging it toward the discharge end of the tube member comprises a gasket having a flexible perimeter and having edges directed toward the discharge end of the tube member such that the pressure of the beverage against the bottom of the gasket deforms the perimeter and flows around the gasket toward the discharge where a general view of the beverage dispenser 1 is illustrated. There is depicted the relationship of the various major parts of the invention such as the elongate tube member 2, the cap 3 which provides means for sealing the space between the tube member 2 and the mouth of the beverage container (not shown), the cover member 4 which provides means for spacing the submersible end 5 of the tube member 2 from the bottom of the container to permit beverage to flow into the tube member 2. Also illustrated are the skirt 6 and the inwardly directed flange 7 projecting from the flared edge 8 of the skirt 6 which, (in cooperation with each other) provide the means for conducting the beverage from the dischargeend 9 of the tube member 2. Also shown is the lid member 10 disposed at the pumping end 11 of the plunger 12 to provide means for sealing the discharge end 9 of the tube member 2 when the dispenser is not in use.

The operation of the invention can be better understood from an inspection of FIG. 2. In use, the plunger 12 is reciprocated within the tube member 2 causing the gasket 20, disposed at the pumping end 21 of the plunger 12, to create a vacuum in the portion of the tube member 2 between the gasket and the submersible end 5 of the tube member 2 which is filled with beverage as the gasket 20 is drawn toward the discharge end 9 of the tube member 2. The beverage enters through the ports 22 in the cover member 23. As the plunger 12 is reciprocated, the gasket 20 moves back toward the submersible end 5 of the tube member 2. The perimeter 24 of the gasket 20 presents the shape of the frustum of a right cone. The perimeter 24 is flexible, permitting the edges 25 of the perimeter 24 to be forced away from the inside walls 26 of the tube member 2 by the pressure of beverage on the bottom of the gasket 20. Beverage drawn into the tube member 2 in the space between the gasket 20 and the submersible end 5 deforms the perimeter 24 of the gasket 20 and flows past the gasket 20 into the space between the gasket 20 and the discharge end 9 as the plunger 12 is moved toward the submersible end 5.

On the next reciprocation of the plunger 12, the pressure of the beverage against the top of the gasket 20 forces the edges 25 of the flexible perimeter 24 against the inside walls 26 of the tube member 2, thus urging beverage toward the discharge end of the tube member 2 and simultaneously creating a vacuum which draws fresh beverage into the tube member 2.

The cap 3 is shown in cross section in FIG. 2. Two cooperating tabs 31 and 32 are provided on the cap 3 and disposed on either side of a slot 33 in the cap 3. The slot provides flexibility required to permit the cap 3 to be positioned around the lip and a portion of the neck of a beverage container (not shown). A shoulder 35 on the key 34 bears against tab 32 and the shank of the key 34 fits through an unthreaded aperture 36 in the tab 32. The tab 31 has a threaded aperture 37. The threads of the key 34 engage the threads of the tab 31 so that the slot 33 may be narrowed and the cap 3 tightened around the lip and a portion of the neck of a beverage container. As the key 34 is turned, tabs 31 and 32 are drawn together or permitted to separate, depending on the direction of the turn. The

cap 3 receives and fits closely the tube member 2. In this embodiment of the invention, it is slideable along the tube member 2 for making minor adjustments as dictated by the height of the beverage container. Spaced feet 40 project from the cover member 41 for the purpose of providing space between the submersible end of the tube member 2 and the bottom of the container, so that beverage may freely flow into the submersible end of the tube member 2. At the discharge end 9 of the tube member 2 is the pouring spout arrangement, which was described in connection with FIG. 1. The lid member 10 fits snugly over the flared edge 8 of the skirt 6 of the discharge end 9 of the tube member 2 to make an essentially air-tight seal. A vent 45 is provided to replace withdrawn beverage with an appropriate volume of air.

I claim:

1. A beverage pump dispenser to be used in conducting a beverage from a beverage container to a receptacle for use, said dispenser comprising:

a. an elongate tube member having a submersible end. a

discharge end, and a hollow body having an inside diameter, an inside surface and an outside surface;

b. a cap having a top end and a side band integrally formed with said top, said top having means defining an aperture to sealingly receive said tube member, said side band having an inside and outside wall and a free edge, said inside wall being shaped and dimensioned to closely engage portions of the beverage container and said outside wall having means defining a slot extending upwardly from the free edge of said side band, and means for narrowing the width of the slot in said side band to tighten said side band around a portion of said beverage container; c. means for spacing said submersible end of said tube member from the bottom of said container to permit beverage to flow into said tube member; d. a skirt integrally formed with the discharge end of said tube member, said skirt having a flared edge, and an inwardly directed flange projecting from said flared edge of said skirt, said inwardly directed flange having a graduated width from zero width to a substantial width such that a pouring spout is formed at the point of zero width; and e. a plunger having a pumping end and a suction end for use within said tube member, said plunger comprising an elongate shank, means disposed at said suction end for drawing the beverage into said tube member and for urging the beverage toward the discharge end of said tube member, and

means disposed said pumping end of said plunger for sea]- ing the discharge end of said tube member when said dispenser is not in use. 1

2. The beverage pump dispenser of claim 1 together with a lid member shaped and dimensioned to sealingly cover the flared edge of said skirt to provide a sanitary air-tight seal for said dispenser. 

1. A beverage pump dispenser to be used in conducting a beverage from a beverage container to a receptacle for use, said dispenser comprising: a. an elongate tube member having a submersible end, a discharge end, and a hollow body having an inside diameter, an inside surface and an outside surface; b. a cap having a top end and a side band integrally formed with said top, said top having means defining an aperture to sealingly receive said tube member, said side band having an inside and outside wall and a free edge, said inside wall being shaped and dimensioned to closely engage portions of the beverage container and said outside wall having means defining a slot extending upwardly from the free edge of said side band, and means for narrowing the width of the slot in said side band to tighten said side band around a portion of said beverage container; c. means for spacing said submersible end of said tube member from the bottom of said container to permit beverage to flow into said tube member; d. a skirt integrally formed with the discharge end of said tube member, said skirt having a flared edge, and an inwardly directed flange projecting from said flared edge of said skirt, said inwardly directed flange having a graduated width from zero width to a substantial width such that a pouring spout is formed at the point of zero width; and e. a plunger having a pumping end and a suction end for use within said tube member, said plunger comprising an elongate shank, means disposed at said suction end for drawing the beverage into said tube member and for urging the beverage toward the discharge end of said tube member, and means disposed said pumping end of said plunger for sealing the discharge end of said tube member when said dispenser is not in use.
 2. The beverage pump dispenser of claim 1 together with a lid member shaped and dimensioned to sealingly cover the flared edge of said skirt to provide a sanitary air-tight seal for said dispenser. 